Richard Vedder, “America's Foremost Expert on the Economics of Higher Education,” Will Speak at Baugh Center for Entrepreneurship and Free Enterprise Lecture Series on Jan. 18

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WACO, Texas (Jan. 17, 2018) – Richard Vedder, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Economics Emeritus at Ohio University, director of the Center for College Affordability and Productivity, and an adjunct scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, will speak at the Baugh Center’s Free Enterprise Forum on Jan. 18, in Foster Campus for Business and Innovation.

The Wall Street Journal referred to Vedder as “America's foremost expert on the economics of higher education.”
Vedder will present his lecture, “The Coming Crisis in Higher Education,” at 4 p.m. in Room 250 and will participate in an informal meet and greet beforehand from 3 to 3:30 p.m., in Room 211.

“We are very excited to host Dr. Vedder for our first Free Enterprise lecture of the spring series,” said Daniel Bennett, Ph.D., research professor in the Hankamer School of Business’ department of entrepreneurship. “He has more than 15 years of experience in researching the economics of higher education and has served as a lead reformer in government public policy. His research on the affordability of higher education, or lack thereof, has been cited in a variety of publications nationwide.”

Vedder is the author of eight books and more than 200 scholarly papers in economic history, labor and education economics and public policy. Vedder also served on the Secretary of Education's Commission on the Future of Higher Education, and his popular works have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes Magazine, USA TODAY, Bloomberg, Insider Higher Ed and The Chronicle of Higher Education. He also has been featured on the ABC Nightly News, a Fox News Primetime Special, CNN's Lou Dobbs and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.
Free Enterprise at the Baugh Center was established in 2013. The program seeks to aid in the preservation of the competitive free enterprise system, including the vital small business sector of the economy. The program’s goal is to serve as a national leader in this area through research, teaching and informing public policy.

The Free Enterprise Forum speaker series features academically renowned guests speaking on a range of topics from free enterprise and regulation to innovation and poverty.
There will be two additional speakers as part of the spring lecture series.

Barbara Demick, Los Angeles Times correspondent, fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and award-winning author, will present her lecture, "Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea," at 4 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 8, in Foster 250.

P.J. Hill, Ph.D, professor of Economics Emeritus at Wheaton College and senior fellow at the Property and Environment Research Center, will present his lecture, "Saving the Environment Through Prices and Property Rights," at 4 p.m., Thursday March 22, in Foster 250.

Foster Campus for Business and Innovation is located at 1621 S. Third St. The event is free and open to the public. For more information, visit the Baylor Business website.

by Brooke Battersby, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

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